San Andreas Captures Tunku Gold Cup

Ready to Run Sale graduate San Andreas (Smart Missile) landed the biggest win of his career with an impressive come-from-behind performance in Sunday’s RM150,000 Equine Sanctuary Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) at Selangor.

San Andreas was offered by Kilgravin Lodge at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale, where he was purchased for $90,000 by Alrashid Group. His 23-start career has now produced eight wins and four second placings, earning more than RM230,000 in prize-money.

Sunday’s Tunku Gold Cup was the six-year-old’s first win at black-type level, and he earned it in impressive style.

Ridden by Brazilian jockey Edson Teixeira Ferreira, San Andreas dropped back from his wide gate and settled at the rear of the 16-horse field.  He was still second-last rounding the home turn, but then he quickened brilliantly and ducked and weaved his way through traffic down the Selangor straight.

With a withering late burst, he flashed past the front-running favourite Awesome Storm (Phenomenons) and won by half a length. The 1200 metres were run in 1:09.47.

San Andreas is owned by Box Office and is trained by AB Abdullah.